Proverbs 8:33-35 – “Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;”  NKJV

When I first became a Christian and acknowledged God’s call to preach, I had an elder statesman in the Kingdom tell me, “Son, you need to read on Chapter in Proverbs every day for the rest of your life.”  He went on to tell me that it would be in those daily readings that I would gain more wisdom and knowledge about life than I would in any other endeavor that I could engage in.  I have concluded that he was right because I have found answers to so many questions in life and relationships in Proverbs that I never cease to be amazed at the wisdom compacted into such a small portion of writings.

Here we find a nugget that is incredibly powerful and beneficial.  It is true wisdom to “hear instruction” providing you do not “disdain or ignore” it.  The Lord, speaking through the writer probably Solomon, informs us that we are Blessed if we Listen to Him and that our daily objective should be to Watch at the Gates and Wait at His Door.  He tells us that whoever finds Him (GOD) finds life and obtains favor from the LORD! 

FINDS LIFE – -The most critical thing for any of us spiritually and eternally is to “find life.”  We will either Live Forever in Heaven with God or we will Die Forever in hell with the devil.

OBTAIN FAVOR WITH GOD – -In living that life here in the natural it is difficult enough doing so “knowing God” but to live in the Favor of God is most important and powerful.  That places us in a position where when things go sour for others around us, we can Hope in God because He is our Refuge and our Fortress.  We can live life without Fear and in Perfect Peace no matter what storms may come our way.

The key to this is “Listening to the Lord.”  If we diligently Watch for Him and Wait on Him, we will Hear Him and as we Hear Him, we are to Heed Him.  In that condition, we not only draw near to Him, but we find His Spirit leading us in the paths of righteousness and we find the Divine Favor of God resting upon us and what He has placed in our hands to do.  That is a place that we should all desire!

May God bless you as you go through your day!